Concerning the socio-economic dimension, five correlates are analyzed. First, the relationship between crime reduction and the number of inhabitants is investigated. The criminological and economic literature has widely investigated the variability in crime between urban and non-urban/rural contexts, and one of the characterizing elements of urban contexts is the higher number (and density) of inhabitants. Urbanization is positively associated to criminal activity [1]}, [2]}, [3]}, but within the context of a pandemic-driven lockdown, the criminal opportunities related to the dynamic aspects of urban life (such as transient crowding, see [4]}) may be consistently reduced, thus thinning the role of urbanization–and population–in driving criminal activity. Furthermore, in line with routine activity theory [5]}, highly populated areas may have developed a higher level of formal and informal guardianship and control, thus further minimizing criminal opportunities.
